2.16.2017

Hell yes. Constance Wu to star in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

'Fresh Off The Boat' star will play the lead in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the best-selling novel.

Hell yes. This is some casting news we've been waiting for. At long last, Crazy Rich Asians has found its lead. Constance Wu will star as Rachel Chu in Warner Bros.' adaptation of Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Fresh Off The Boat star is in negotiations to play the movie's Chinese American lead. Directed by Jon M. Chu, from a screenplay by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, the film will start shooting in Singapore this spring with an all-Asian cast.

Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel Chu, an American-born Chinese economics professor, who travels to her boyfriend Nick's hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding, only to discover that Nick is heir to a massive fortune, he's perhaps he most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

While Warner Bros. has not officially greenlighted the project, it's reportedly on the development fast-track. It's really happening. Let's be real: at some point, some exec probably floated the idea of turning Rachel into a white woman. Raise your hand if you feared this possibility. So all things considered, it's off to a halfway decent start if they've not only cast an actual Asian actress, it's Constance friggin' Wu!

Fans have been dream-casting the Crazy Rich Asians movie for years. After all the speculation swirling around the casting of this film, Wu, who has become a breakout star as Jessica Huang on Fresh Off The Boat, feels like an obvious and awesome choice to play Rachel. We approve.